Tuesday, April 10, 2012

FDNY employees want to be paid for perk


From the NY Post:

Most people would be thrilled if their boss gave them a company vehicle and paid for their commuting costs — but not these disgruntled city workers.

A group of angry FDNY civilian employees who are given department-owned trucks to drive to and from work sites at city expense are complaining that that perk isn’t enough for them — and filed a federal lawsuit demanding that they also be paid for their commuting time, according to court papers.

A judge has thrown out the wacky suit, but the FDNY workers are still mad that they weren’t given extra dough for something that costs most people an arm and a leg.

Since the workers make emergency repairs in firehouses and EMS stations, officials reasoned it would make sense for them to go to job sites directly from home instead of first taking the time to drive to where their work truck is parked overnight.

FDNY brass estimate that the program produces about $1 million a year in extra productivity.

But in 2007 more than a dozen of the FDNY workers filed suit.

The workers complained that before the program, they were paid from the minute they got into their trucks in their office parking lots to drive to the day’s job site.

Now that they can keep their trucks at home, they got paid only once they arrive at the job site.

They argued that, even though this meant zero commuting costs for the employees, they still should be paid as long as they were driving a city truck.

27 comments:

Anonymous said...

There is an ad on the radio voiced by that mook who heads the PBA.
In it he complains about the supposed fact that when a traffic ticket is discharged by a judge, the police officer who wrote it gets fined "three vacation days, a cost of over $900 dollars".

So, the Boys from Ronkonkoma are costing us a fortune.

Anonymous said...

I'll take the free truck. I'll bet if they are given the choice they will too.

Anonymous said...

very costly to the city...recently deputy mayor cas halloway issued a memo to city agencies to re evaluated take home vehicle....looks like this isa good place to start.

Anonymous said...

Take the trucks away and let them drive or ride the bus to the City owned lots where these vehicles are to be used for work and work only. Where do these guys live anyway< Rockland County?

Anonymous said...

And does FDNY's and CB#7's own, Gene Kelty, want reimbursement for all of the beer mugs he hoists?

Anonymous said...

They get enough looting perks when they respond to fires.

The gangs of New York are its fire companies!

Anonymous said...

Somewhere in some fireman's house
(or in some local "fence's" basement) is that big brass bell that formerly hung in St. Saviour's steeple.

What is bronze worth these days as scrap metal?

Captain Firestarter said...

Yo...I wasn't stealing...I was just putting out a fire in a jewelry box.

Anonymous said...

deputy mayor cas halloway issued a memo to city agencies to re evaluated take home vehicle

They should look at the vehicles with official plates that CUNY people take home, too. What are the emergencies that they would be responding to? Why does the Executive Vice Chancellor have a red light on his dashboard?

Anonymous said...

How about we go back to the days when NYPD/FDNY had to live in the city???

I'm tired of people taking this cities public jobs and then taking their money (and taxes) to other counties. It drains the city.

And if they lived near a subway or bus, then they would not need to take home their vehicles!

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
And does FDNY's and CB#7's own, Gene Kelty, want reimbursement for all of the beer mugs he hoists?
.............................................

Gene Kelty: Where's the fire?

Claire Shulman: In your eyes, stud muffin!!!

Anonymous said...

Firstly, it's free work for the city. They don't have to park the trucks in a lot that they have to pay for. The worker now HAS to go home right after work. Read the article - the city did it because it is SAVING them money & they get more productivity for it. But, they don't want to pay for the parking, etc. Typical NYC crap with lower paid workers.

Anonymous said...

Maybe they should keep City jobs, just for people who live in the City.

Anonymous said...

While vacationing in Hawaii, I noticed that the Fire Department there had a tar-kettle trailer connected to the rear of a fire engine. The fire men were out fixing potholes in between fires! My, I pondered, what a wonderful idea. Its a superb use of limited taxpayer resources, especially in this economy, and the grateful workers - lucky to have a job - looked happy keeping busy in the outdoors, giving back to the community by doing a vital public service (sitting around drinking beer and playing checkers while hiding in the fire station all day long must get old fast). Why can't we allow our FDNY fire men to undertake the same or similar chores?

Anonymous said...

While vacationing in Hawaii, I noticed that the Fire Department there had a tar-kettle trailer connected to the rear of a fire engine. The fire men were out fixing potholes in between fires! My, I pondered, what a wonderful idea. Its a superb use of limited taxpayer resources, especially in this economy, and the grateful workers - lucky to have a job - looked happy keeping busy in the outdoors, giving back to the community by doing a vital public service (sitting around drinking beer and playing checkers while hiding in the fire station all day long must get old fast). Why can't we allow our FDNY fire men to undertake the same or similar chores?

OK. So where do I begin? How many highrise buildings are there in HI? Do you have any concept of what it takes to be be PREPARED to fight a fire in NYC? Being on call for 2 24 hours shifts IS A FULL TIME JOB! Think before you compare NYC to HI! (and yes, I've been to HI 3 times) And I grew up on LI with all volunteer fire fighters. You think it's easy? You do it!!!

Anonymous said...

Do you have any concept of what it takes to be be PREPARED to fight a fire in NYC? Being on call for 2 24 hours shifts IS A FULL TIME JOB!

And, yet, so many firemen have time to enter those "best chili" and other cooking contests.

Anonymous said...

How about we go back to the days when NYPD/FDNY had to live in the city???

I'm tired of people taking this cities public jobs and then taking their money (and taxes) to other counties. It drains the city.

Agreed - Our tax $$ are better served with City govt jobs going to residents WHO RESIDE HERE! Bravo fellow reader!It makes sense to me!

Anonymous said...

All professional firefighting departments have to contend with the fact they are idle a huge percentage of the time.

Regarding the reimbursement the city employees want. I have a private sector job, and when my employer does something that increases productivity in general, or I can increase my productivity, I'm not expecting a dollar-for-dollar exchange. The sense of entitlement that public sector employees have is the outrage here.

Anonymous said...

No doubt; a residency law is way overdue for all uniformed nyc employees. Let them volunteer on Long Island - the land of the overtaxed, and they like it, their schools are sooo good!

Anonymous said...

Why have a residency law only limited to NYC uniformed employees? There are over 85,000 public school teachers working for the NYC Board of Ed, most of them opting to live outside of the city, and many living in other states. With a good paying, easy to fill job like that, it only makes sense to restrict it to city residents, IMHO.

Anonymous said...

Don't forget the tax free pension either!

Anonymous said...

You would be suprised at who gets take home cars in NYC Transit.

Anonymous said...

Anon. No. 23:

What percentage of NYC Transit employees get to take home their cars?

Anonymous said...

Hey Morons A residency law would require higher salaries in order for these people to actually afford living within City limits. Besides, an employer should not have the right to tell an employee where he or she can live. Unless they are being compensated.

Anonymous said...

When NYC taxpayers are paying thier salary then we think the employer and the taxpayers should have a right to keep non residents off the payroll - moron!

Anonymous said...

I agree, on the surface, a residency requirement looks good. But do any of you see WHAT is living in the city these days? Do you REALLY want to depend on our current residents to put out our fires and patrol our streets with guns??

Anonymous said...

Have you seen what is living on long island? Beleive me, with 9,000,000 people in NYC, We're more than a match for Long Island!